ANT 6115 Seminar in Archaeological Methods
Required course for archaeology graduate students. Offered every Fall Semester


COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EMPHASES
This graduate-level seminar is designed to examine in detail archaeological methods used both in the field and in the laboratory, from survey and excavation to dating and analysis of materials. A prior background in archaeology is required. Each week significant articles from the archaeological literature will be presented and critiqued. Some hands-on experience may also be obtained in field methods (as circumstances permit), in computer applications, and in artifact analysis.

<>REQUIRED TEXTS
Field Methods in Archaeology, by T.R. Hester, H.J. Shafer & K.L. Feder. 7th edition, 1997. Mayfield.
The Archaeologist’s Laboratory. The Analysis of Archaeological Data, by E.B. Banning. 2000. Kluwer/Plenum.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EMPHASES
This graduate-level seminar is designed to examine in detail archaeological methods used both in the field and in the laboratory, from survey and excavation to isotopic analysis of materials. A prior background in archaeology is required (i.e. ANT 3101 or equivalent). Each week significant articles from the archaeological literature will be presented and critiqued. Hands-on experience may also be obtained in field methods (as circumstances permit), in computer applications, and in artifact analysis.

GRADES
In addition to the reading assignments required of all students, at least every other week students will be assigned individual readings which he/she will summarize for the class. The important methodological and interpretive points of the article(s) will be presented (5 minutes) and discussed orally; a handout (for all members of the class) including your name and date, the full reference for the article, and an outline/commentary of its contents/methods/significance to the topic of the week should also be prepared. Over the course of the semester, there will also be several hands-on exercises. Lastly, each student will do a term paper in the format of a grant proposal, on a pre-approved topic, which also will be presented to the class.

Course grades will be based on these weekly presentations and participation in class discussions (30%), class exercises (25%), and the term paper (35% for the paper; 10% for presentation). Course letter grades will be based on a curved standardized score with “A+” awarded for 97-100; “A” for 94-96; “A-” for 90-93; “B+” for 87-89; “B” for 84-86; “B-” for 80-83; “C+” for 77-79, “C” for 74-77; “C-” for 70-73; “D+” for 68-69; “D” for 66-67; and “D-” for 65.

SYLLABUS
Click here to get a PDF copy of the FALL 2005 syllabus (you need to have a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed).
  

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